The Lebret (Qu’Appelle, St. Paul’s, Whitecalf) Industrial School, (1884 – 1998) , operated by the Roman Catholic Church (Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Grey Nuns) from 1884 until 1973, was one of the first three industrial schools that opened following the recommendations of the Davin Report, and was fully funded by the government. Lebret school has a long history as one of the first industrial schools to open and the last to close.

Fr. Gagnon was the Principal of Beauval Indian [Indigenous] Residential School. On July 2nd, 1940, he ran over Hermen Piche in the school truck. Herman later died from his injuries.